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The recommended ENTRY altitude for ground reference maneuvers (rectangular course, S-turns, turns around a point) is

Choices

above 3,000 ft AGL for safety.
3,000 ft is too high to see wind drift effect.
✓ between 600 and 1,000 ft AGL.correct
Ground reference maneuvers are entered between 600 and 1,000 ft AGL — high enough for safety, low enough to clearly see the ground reference. Per AFH Chapter 6, ground reference maneuvers are flown at 600-1,000 ft AGL — low enough to perceive ground track and wind drift, high enough to recover from any unintentional descent. Below 500 ft AGL the maneuver becomes hazardous; above 1,200 ft the wind effect on track is hard to discern.
exactly 500 ft AGL.
500 ft is too low for safe recovery.
ground reference can be performed at any altitude.
AFH specifies a range; not 'any altitude'.

Why

Ground reference maneuvers are entered between 600 and 1,000 ft AGL — high enough for safety, low enough to clearly see the ground reference. Per AFH Chapter 6, ground reference maneuvers are flown at 600-1,000 ft AGL — low enough to perceive ground track and wind drift, high enough to recover from any unintentional descent. Below 500 ft AGL the maneuver becomes hazardous; above 1,200 ft the wind effect on track is hard to discern.

FAA source: AFH Ch 6; AFH Chapter 6 — Ground Reference Maneuversbrowse the reference library →

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Original study question written for this course — representative of FAA knowledge-test topics, not an actual current FAA exam question. Reviewed by a panel of three CFIs + AI review.